Water Transport Origins and Early Evolution

First published in 1946, this book presents a comprehensive account regarding the origins and early evolution of water transport written by the renowned British ethnographer and zoologist James Hornell (1865–1949). The focus of the text is on different types of transport, and it is divided into three main sections: the first section is on 'Floats, Rafts and Kindred Craft', the second is on 'Skin Boats: Coracles, Curraghs, Kayaks and their Kin' and the third is on 'Bark Canoes, Dugouts and Plank-Built Craft'. Numerous illustrative figures and a detailed bibliography are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in archaeology, anthropology and the history of water transport.

List of text-figures; Group A. Floats, Rafts and Kindred Craft: 1. Swimming floats and riding floats; 2. Buoyed rafts; 3. Reed rafts and reed canoes; 4. Log rafts and catamarans; 5. The origin of the junk and sampan; Group B. Skin Boats: Coracles, Curraghs, Kayaks and their Kin: 6. The coracle in Aisa; 7. British coracles and Irish curraghs; 8. The skin boats of the American Indians; 9. The skin boats of the Eskimos and other Arctic peoples; 10. The origins of skin boats; Group C. Bark Canoes, Dugouts and Plank-Built Craft: 11. The genetic relation of the bark canoe to dugouts and plank-built boats; 12. From dugout to carvel-built ship; 13. The evolution of the clinker-built fishing lugger; 14. Constructional parallels in Scandinavian and oceanic boat construction; 15. The sailing ships of ancient Egypt; 16. The development of Arab ship design; 17. The boats of the Ganges; 18. Outrigger devices: distribution and origin; 19. The prow of the ship: sanctuary of its tutelary deity; Literature cited; Abbreviations; Index; List of plates.